Je suis désolé is the most used expression to say "I'm sorry" in French, but, as happens in many other languages, there are several alternative phrases. To choose the right one you need to consider the specific context.
Steps
Part 1 of 2: Basic Apologies
Step 1. In formal situations you can use Je suis désolé, which is the most common phrase for saying "I'm sorry" in French
- Je suis means "I am", while désolé is an adjective meaning "sorry". Désolé is the masculine form, while désolée is feminine.
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You can listen to the pronunciation by clicking on the following link (désolé and désolée are pronounced the same way):
Pronunciation
- This phrase should be used when apologizing for something important, addressing a stranger or an elderly person, or in a professional or otherwise formal context.
Step 2. If you have made a serious mistake, add vraiment
The phrase would be Je suis vraiment désolé (masculine) or Je suis vraiment désolée (feminine).
- The word vraiment means "really", so the sentence means "I'm really sorry / sorry".
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Listen to the pronunciation by clicking on the following link:
Pronunciation
Step 3. In an informal context you can simply use the word désolé, eliminating the rest of the sentence
- You would basically delete the words Je suis, "I am", and just say "Sorry" instead of "I'm sorry". Remember once again that désolé is the masculine form of the adjective and désolée the feminine form.
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Listen to the pronunciation by clicking on the following link (désolé and désolée are pronounced the same way):
Pronunciation
- You can use this word to quickly apologize to a friend or someone close to you. It should only be used when the offense is not serious. In serious cases, a more formal expression must be chosen, namely Je suis désolé.
Part 2 of 2: Alternative Translations
Step 1. Accept your responsibility by saying C'est ma faute, which means "It is my fault"
It is possible to use this phrase with or without a formal apology.
- By breaking down the sentence, c'est means "is", but "mine" and faute "fault". Since faute is a feminine word, we must use the feminine form of the possessive adjective "my", that is ma (while the masculine is mon).
- You can use this phrase on its own, but it generally adds to your apology. In other words, we usually apologize as follows: Je suis désolé. C'est ma faute.
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Listen to the pronunciation by clicking on the following link:
Pronunciation
Step 2. Excuse yourself by saying Excusez-moi, which means "excuse me" or "excuse me"
You can use it with a person you give your name to or with a group of people.
- The verb excuser means "to forgive" or "to excuse", while the pronoun moi "me". Basically you would ask your interlocutor to be forgiven or apologized.
- This phrase is usually used to get someone's attention, but you can also use it to apologize for doing a minor offense to a stranger or a group of people. Instead, avoid using it if you have committed a more serious wrong.
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You can listen to the pronunciation by clicking on the following link:
Pronunciation
Step 3. Apologize by saying sorry
Being an informal expression, use it with care.
- Pardon comes from the verb pardonner, which means "to forgive".
- It is often used when bumping into someone you know or trying to make your way through a crowd.
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Listen to the pronunciation by clicking on the following link:
Pronunciation
Step 4. Ask for forgiveness by saying Je vous demande pardon, which translates as follows:
"I ask you to forgive me" or "I ask you to forgive me".
- The verb demande means "to ask". In this sentence, pardon is used as a noun and means "forgiveness". Je and vous are pronouns. The first means "I", the second "you" or "you". This phrase is used to ask someone to give their forgiveness.
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Listen to the pronunciation by clicking on the following link:
Pronunciation
Step 5. Excuse yourself by exclaiming Je m'excuse!, which means "I'm sorry" or "I'm sorry".
- Je is a pronoun and means "I". M'excuse is the first person singular of the verb s'excuser, or "to apologize". It literally translates as: "I apologize".
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Click on the following link to hear the pronunciation:
Pronunciation
Step 6. Apologize by saying Veuillez m'excuser, which literally means "please excuse me"
- The word veuillez is the second person of the imperative of the verb vouloir, which means "to want". Veuillez means "please" and allows you to make polite or sincere requests. It can also be translated as "please".
- In this sentence m'excuser is the reflexive form of the verb excuser, which means "to excuse" or "to forgive". M'excuser literally means "sorry".
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Listen to the pronunciation by clicking on the following link:
Pronunciation
Step 7. Use the verb regretter, or regret, to express remorse associated with unfortunate circumstances
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The first person singular is Je regrette, "I regret". Listen to the pronunciation by clicking on the following link:
Pronunciation
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If you want to change the subject, you must correctly conjugate the verb.
- Nous regrettons (pronunciation): "we are sorry".
- Il regrette (pronounced): "he is sorry".
- Elle regrette (pronounced): "sorry".
Say Sorry in French Step 11 Step 8. To express displeasure with someone, use the verb plaindre
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Plaindre is the infinite form of the verb, so it must be conjugated according to the subject. For instance:
- If you want to say, "I'm sorry," you will conjugate it like this: Je plains.
- If you want to say "Sorry", you have to conjugate it like this: Nous plaignons.
Say Sorry in French Step 12 Step 9. If you want to use an adjective to express displeasure, you can opt for pitoyable or sad
Both terms are used to describe a situation of regret or sadness.
- Use pitoyable to describe states and excuses. Literally it means "miserable" or "pathetic". Hear the pronunciation here.
- Use sad (which means "sad") to describe a story, state, or view that causes sorrow. Hear the pronunciation here.
